Trailer safety chain attachment monitoring system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9987892-B2
Application number	US-201615019997-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 10, 2016
Priority date	Feb 10, 2016
Publication date	Jun 5, 2018
Grant date	Jun 5, 2018

Abstract

A vehicle includes a controller and a frame having a receiver including an electrical connector configured to connect to a trailer having a plurality of chains. The plurality of chains each includes a sensor configured to transmit a position of the chain relative to a winch disposed on the trailer. The controller is configured to, in response to data from the sensors indicating a position of the chains, display via an interface a connection status of the chains.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle trailer system comprising:
a trailer chain including a sensor that transmits data indicative of a chain position; and
a controller configured to:
in response to data indicating a secured chain position, illuminate a light at a first frequency,
in response to data indicating an unsecured chain position, illuminate the light at a second frequency; and
in response to data indicating an unconnected chain position, illuminate the light at a third frequency.

2. The trailer attachment system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to, in response to data indicating the unsecured chain position, display via an interface the unsecured status.

3. The trailer attachment system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to continually monitor the data.

4. A vehicle comprising:
a frame having a receiver including an electrical connector configured to connect to a trailer having a plurality of chains that each include a sensor configured to transmit a position of the chain relative to a winch disposed on the trailer;
a light attached to the receiver and connected to the sensors such that a position of at least one of the sensors relative to the winch being below a threshold illuminates the light, wherein the light at a first frequency to indicate a proper connection between the chains and the winch, illuminate the light at a second frequency to indicate an improper connection between the chains and the winch, and illuminate the light at a third frequency to indicate an unconnected position; and
a controller configured to, in response to data from the sensors indicating a position of the chains, display via an interface a connection status of the chains.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the controller is further configured to, in response to the connection status indicating a change in the position of the chains, alter the interface to indicate a corresponding change in the connection status.

6. A control method for a trailer hitch safety system comprising:
in response to sensor data from a trailer safety chain, indicative of an arrangement of the safety chain relative to a winch disposed on a trailer being in a secured position, display, via an interface, indicia representing a proper chain connection such that a light illuminates at a first frequency;
in response to sensor data from the trailer safety chain, indicative of an arrangement of the safety chain relative to a winch disposed on the trailer being in an unsecured position, display, via an interface, indicia representing an improper chain connection such that the light illuminates at a second frequency; and
in response to sensor data from the trailer safety chain, indicative of an arrangement of the safety chain being in an unconnected position, illuminate the light at a third frequency.

7. The control method of claim 6 further comprising transmitting to a device paired with the interface over a network the indicia representing the proper chain connection.

8. The control method of claim 6 further comprising transmitting to a device paired with the interface over a network the indicia representing the improper chain connection.

9. The control method of claim 6 further comprising, in response to the sensor data being indicative of a change in position, alter the indicia.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Ghannam Mahmoud Yousef
• Tippy David James
• Dudar Aed M

Classifications

• B60Q9/00

  Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 {, e.g. haptic signalling} · CPC title

• B60W50/14

  Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention · CPC title

• B60D1/64

  Couplings or joints therefor · CPC title

• B60D1/62 Primary

  involving supply lines, electric circuits or the like · CPC title

• B60P7/06

  Securing of load (vehicle retainers B60P3/073) · CPC title